Vehicle suspension mechanism

Abstract

A vehicle suspension system comprises a transversely-disposed elongate spring connected to opposing stub axles, each having one of an opposing pair of wheels rotatably mounted on a distal end thereof such that moments generated in one of the wheels due to external influences or operational conditions are directly transferred to the other wheel, causing the wheels to act in concert. A plurality of modified embodiments provide different exemplary configurations for so transferring such moments.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
       1. An axle and suspension system for a vehicle including a pair of wheels and having a direction of travel, which comprises: (a) axle means having opposite first and second ends each mounting one of said wheels;   (b) first and second rotational mounting means for rotatably mounting said axle means on said vehicle at first and second rotational axes, each such rotational axis extending generally parallel to said vehicle direction of travel; and   (c) spring moment transfer means for transferring a moment with respect to one of said rotational axes such that a similar but counter moment is created with respect to the other one of said rotational axes; said spring moment transfer means connected to said rotational mounting means on sides of said rotational axes opposite the wheels.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein: (a) said spring moment transfer means comprises said axle means having first and second stub axles at said first and second ends respectively; each said stub axle having inner and outer ends with a respective rotational axis positioned therebetween, and leaf spring means having first and second ends rigidly connected to first and second stub axle inner ends respectively.   
     
     
       3. An axle and suspension system for a vehicle including a pair of wheels and having a direction of travel, which comprises: (a) axle means having opposite first and second ends each mounting one of said wheels;   (b) first and second rotational mounting means for rotatably mounting said axle on said vehicle at first and second rotational axes; each such rotataional axis extending generally parallel to said vehicle direction of travel; and   (c) spring moment transfer means intermediate said first and second rotational mounting means for transferring a moment with respect to one of said rotational axes such that a similar but counter moment is created with respect to the other one of said rotational axes; said spring moment transfer means comprises said axle means having first and second stub axles at said first and second ends respectively; each said stub axle having inner and outer ends with a respective rotational axis positioned therebetween, and spring means having first and second ends connected in moment-transfer relationship to first and second stub axle inner ends respectively.   
     
     
       4. The suspension system according to claim 3, including: (a) a shock absorber.   
     
     
       5. A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) a pair of opposing wheels;   (b) mounting means for separately mounting each one of said pair of wheels to said vehicle; moment transfer means for directly causing each one of said pair of wheels to maintain a spacing relative to said vehicle similar to that of the other one of said pair of wheels such that said pair of wheels act in concert; said moment transfer means connected only to said mounting means;   (c) a moment pin for each one of said pair of wheels; each said moment pin connected to said vehicle in a generally horizontal, fore-and-aft orientation;   (d) a stub axle for each one of said pair of wheels; each said stub axle pivotally connected to a different one of said moment pins wherein such connection is intermediate to, and substantially offset from, each end of said stub axle;   (e) each one of the stub axles is connected to its respective said moment pin such that the magnitude of a leverage ratio provided between one of said wheels and said moment transfer means is substantially equivalent to the magnitude of a similar leverage ratio between the other one of said wheels and said moment transfer means;   (f) a chassis bracket to said vehicle; said chassis bracket having a slot spaced generally colinearally with said moment pins; and wherein   (g) one of said moment pins is slidably connected to said slot.   
     
     
       6. The suspension system according to claim 5, wherein: (a) said moment transfer means is a spring.   
     
     
       7. The suspension system according to claim 6, wherein: (a) said spring is a composite leaf spring.   
     
     
       8. The suspension system according to claim 6, including: (a) an auxiliary spring.   
     
     
       9. The suspension system according to claim 6, including: (a) an adapter connected to a first end of said spring and to an inner end of one of said stub axles; and   (b) an axle bracket connected to an inner end of the other one of said stub axles; said axle bracket connected to a second end of said spring.   
     
     
       10. A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) a pair of opposing wheels;   (b) mounting means for separately mounting each one of said pair of wheels to said vehicle; moment transfer means for directly causing each one of said pair of wheels to maintain a spacing relative to said vehicle similar to that of the other one of said pair of wheels such that said pair of wheels act in concert; said moment transfer means connected only to said mounting means;   (c) a moment pin for each one of said pair of wheels; each said moment pin connected to said vehicle in a generally horizontal, fore-aft orientation;   (d) said moment transfer means comprising a spring;   (e) an adapter connected to a first end of said spring and to an inner end of one of said stub axles;   (f) an axle bracket connected to an inner end of the other one of said stub axles; said axle bracket connected to a second end of said spring;   (g) a spring bracket connected to said second end of said spring; and   (h) two pairs of links pivotally connected to said spring bracket and said axle bracket in an opposing parallelogram arrangement.   
     
     
       11. The suspension system according to claim 10, wherein: (a) said links are connected to said spring bracket and said axle bracket such that displacements of said spring bracket and said axle bracket are generally coplanar with the displacements of said stub axle connected to said axle bracket as that stub axle pivots about its respective said moment pin.   
     
     
       12. A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) a pair of opposing wheels;   (b) mounting means for separately mounting each one of said pair of wheels to said vehicle; moment transfer means for directly causing each one of said pair of wheels to maintain a spacing relative to said vehicle similar to that of the other one of said pair of wheels such that said pair of wheels act in concert; said moment transfer means connected only to said mounting means;   (c) a moment pin for each one of said pair of wheels; each said moment pin connected to said vehicle in a generally horizontal, fore-aft orientation;   (d) said moment transfer means comprising a spring;   (e) an adapter connected to a first end of said spring and to an inner end of one of said stub axles;   (f) an axle bracket connected to an inner end of the other one of said stub axles; said axle bracket connected to a second end of said spring; and   (g) said axle bracket being U-shaped and having two pairs of pin guides parallelly spaced apart such that said second end of said spring is snuggly and slidably receivable therebetween.   
     
     
       13. The suspension system according to claim 12, wherein: (a) said guides are oriented generally perpendicular to a plane described by said stub axle as it pivots about its respective said moment pin.   
     
     
       14. A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) a pair of opposing wheels;   (b) mounting means for separately mounting each one of said pair of wheels to said vehicle;   (c) moment transfer means being a spring for directly causing each one of said pair of wheels to maintain a spacing relative to said vehicle similar to that of the other one of said pair of wheels such that said pair of wheels act in concert; said moment transfer means connected only to said mounting means;   (d) an adapter connected to a first end of said spring and to an inner end of one of said stub axles;   (e) an axle bracket connected to an inner end of the other one of said stub axles; said axle bracket connected to a second end of said spring;   (f) two pairs of roller guides parallelly spaced apart and rotatably and transversely connected to said second end of said spring; and wherein   (g) said axle bracket has a cavity such that said roller guides are snugly and slidably receivable therein.   
     
     
       15. The suspension system according to claim 14, wherein: (a) said roller guides has axes oriented generally perpendicular to a plane described by said stub axle connected to said axle bracket as said stub axle pivots about its respective said moment pin.   
     
     
       16. A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: (a) a pair of opposing wheels   (b) mounting means for separately mounting each one of said pair of wheels to said vehicle; moment transfer means for directly causing each one of said pair of wheels to maintain a spacing relative to said vehicle similar to that of the other one of said pair of wheels such that said pair of wheels act in concert; said moment transfer means connected only to said mounting means;   (c) a moment pin for each one of said pair of wheels; each said moment pin connected to said vehicle in a generally horizontal, fore-aft orientation;   (d) said moment transfer means comprising a spring; and   (e) said spring including a loop.   
     
     
       17. An axle and suspension system for a vehicle including a pair of wheels and having a direction of travel, which comprises: (a) axle means having opposite first and second ends each mounting one of said wheels;   (b) first and second rotational mounting means for rotatably mounting said axle means on said vehicle at first and second rotational axes, each such rotational axis extending generally parallel to said vehicle direction of travel; and   (c) spring moment transfer means for transferring a moment with respect to one of said rotational axes such that a similar but counter moment is created with respect to the other one of said rotational axes; said spring moment transfer means connected to said rotational mounting means on sides of said rotational axes opposite the wheels;   (d) said spring moment transfer means comprises said axle means having first and second stub axles at said first and second ends respectively; each said stub axle having inner and outer ends with a respective rotational axis positioned therebetween, and leaf spring means having first and second ends rigidly connected to first and second stub axle inner ends respectively; and   (e) one of said rotational mounting means including lost motion linkage means.   
     
     
       18. An axle and suspension system for a vehicle including a pair of wheels and having a direction of travel, which comprises: (a) axle means having opposite first and second ends each mounting one of said wheels;   (b) first and second rotational mounting means for rotatably mounting said axle means on said vehicle at first and second rotational axes, each such rotational axis extending generally parallel to said vehicle direction of travel; and   (c) spring moment transfer means for transferring a moment with respect to one of said rotational axes such that a similar but counter moment is created with respect to the other one of said rotational axes; said spring moment transfer means connected to said rotational mounting means on sides of said rotational axes opposite the wheels;   (d) said spring moment transfer means comprises said axle means having first and second stub axles at said first and second ends respectively; each said stub axle having inner and outer ends with a respective rotational axis positioned therebetween, and leaf spring means having first and second ends rigidly connected to first and second stub axle inner ends respectively; and   (e) length adjusting means for adjusting a length of said axle means intermediate said stub axles.   
     
     
       19. An axle and suspension system for a vehicle including a pair of wheels and having a direction of travel, which comprises: (a) axle means having opposite first and second ends each mounting one of said wheels;   (b) first and second rotational mounting means for rotatably mounting said axle means on said vehicle at first and second rotational axes, each such rotational axis extending generally parallel to said vehicle direction of travel;   (c) spring moment transfer means intermediate said first and second rotational mounting means for transferring a moment with respect to one of said rotational axes such that a similar but counter moment is created with respect to the other one of said rotational axes; and   (d) length adjusting means for adjusting a length of said axle means intermediate said stub axles.